Building the Future of Australian Ice Hockey: IIHF Learn to Play Seminar Ignites Passion in Melbourne
Published Mon 05 May 2025
The heart of Australian ice hockey was beating strong over the weekend as O’Brien Icehouse in Melbourne played host to the IIHF Learn to Play Seminar, held from May 2–4, 2025. The event, run in collaboration with the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), Ice Hockey Australia (IHA), and Ice Hockey Victoria (IHV), brought together grassroots coaches, team managers, development officials, and club representatives from across the country.
The seminar is part of a broader push to elevate player development across the American / Oceania region. It served not only as a training ground for skills and knowledge, but also as a platform for uniting Australia’s ice hockey community under one shared goal: growing the game from the ground up.
The weekend kicked off on Friday evening with a welcome event, where participants met IIHF experts, IHA staff, and fellow attendees. The weekend saw a deep dive into the IIHF’s latest Learn to Play curriculum, with a packed schedule across both Saturday and Sunday. From integrity, age-appropriate skill acquisition to innovative coaching methods and player engagement strategies, the seminar provided invaluable insights. The Seminar provided an invalable networking hub where club and state representatives forged new connections and discussed implementation strategies for their local programs with the IIHF.
The Seminar was led by two IIHF heavyweights — Kalle Valiaho (Development Director) and Tim Serratore (Development Instructor for the Americas & Oceania) - who delivered hands-on demonstrations and real-time feedback. Joining them were IHA’s own development leaders Andrew Erzen and Jeff Fode, who contextualised the material for the Australian setting. Catherine Arlove (IHA National Integrity Manager) gave an update on the National Integrity Framework and the work being conducted across the sporting sector in Australia.
The seminar wasn’t just about developing better players — it was about empowering the people who teach them. “It’s an amazing opportunity to see how global best practices can be adapted for Australia,” said IHA Development Coordinator, Andrew Erzen. “Coaches are walking away with not just ideas, but with tools they can use immediately.”
As the weekend wrapped up, there was a clear sense of momentum. The IIHF Learn to Play Seminar marked a step forward in aligning Australia’s development pathways with international standards, particularly in the Americas Region— and just as importantly, in building a stronger, more connected hockey community nationwide.
For all involved, from seasoned coaches to new volunteers, the message was clear: the future of Australian hockey is bright, and it starts with Learn to Play.
